Curtain stretcher



May 12, 1942. w. w. BLOCK CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed July 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gm fdw aa a $3 Z My Patented Ma 12, 1942 OFFICE CURTAIN STRETCHER Walter W. Block, Kenosha, Wis. Application July 29, 1939, Serial No; 287,358

5 Claims.

This invention relates to curtain stretchers and particularly to hinges in that type of curtain stretchers which are referred to as the foldable type.

A curtain stretcher is a bulky piece of apparatus when set up and occupies considerable space and when it is desired to be placed out of use and stored it must either be taken apart or folded in a compact manner to meet the satisfaction of the user. A foldable type of stretcher is more desirable than the type that needs to be taken apart for the reason that it is simpler to place in condition for storing and likewise simpler to place in condition for use. The horizontal rails of the stretcher are generally quite long and should occupy less space when stored than the length of the rail permits unless a hinge is placed along the rail preferably at the approximate center thereof so that the rail may be folded upon itself to occupy a space which is one-half of the length of the extended rail. Many types of hinges have been developed but most of them have been of an expensive structure and have been awkward and difficult for the housewives or laundresses to operate. It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a simple hinge that is practically foolproof and extremely easy to operate,

Another object is to provide a hinge of few and simple parts, and a further object. is to provide a hinge which will render the rail readily foldable and likewise will always place the rail in the same position when extended without any degree of care by the user.

Vertical posts are likewise provided in curtain stretchers and it is desirable to hinge the vertical posts to the horizontal rails, at least to one of the horizontal rails. This hinge should be foolproof to the extent that when the stretcher is set up for use the horizontal and vertical posts that are hinged together should form a practically perfect right angle. This hinge should also be of simple and inexpensive construction and practically foolproof in its operation. It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a corner hinge which is inexpensive, of few parts and simple and accurate in its operation.

Many stretchers are of the so-called easel type which means that a supporting leg is hinged to one of the vertical posts. This leg should be limited in its hinging movement and have a positive position when it is intended to support the stretcher in the manner of an easel. Like the other hinges of the stretcher, this hinge should also be simple in structure, of few parts and foolproof in operation, and still another object of this invention is to provide such a leg hinge that is simple to operate, of few parts and foolproof in operation.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have illustrated selected embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the center rail hinge showing the rail in extended position;

Fig. 2 is an elevation similarto Fig. 1 but showing the rail in folded position;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, similar to Figs. 1 and 2', illustrating the operation of the hinge during folding of the rail;

Fig. 4 is an elevation, similar to Fig. 3, showing the hinge during unfolding of the rail;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the leg hinge in supporting position;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the leg hinge in folded position;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the corner hinge in extended position; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 but showing the hinge in folded position.

A horizontal rail, generally indicated at 9, comprises two sections I0 and II. The section II] is provided with a rivet l2 having a washer l3 thereon which passes through the slot I4 arranged in the hinge, generally indicated by 15. The hinge is fixed to the section II by rivets I6 and Il. The hinge comprises a flat top plate l8 integral with a single side plate 19. The top plate I8 extends along the top of the section II and somewhat beyond the end thereof to overlie the end portion of the section It] when the rail is in extended position. The plate 19 extends beyond the section II overlyingthe side of the section It and terminates in a flat portion 20 containing the slot I4. A further locking slot 2! is provided in the side plate to receive the bolt 22 having the wing nut 23 thereon. In folding the rail from the position shown in Fig. 1 the wing nut 23 is loosened on the bolt 22 and the section H is then pivoted about the rivet l2 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. When the end of the plate l8 engages the top of the section In, continued downward movement, Fig. 3, ofv the section I! will move the plate I9 relative to the rivet i2 so that the rivet will engage the other or lower end of the slot I 4 to the completely folded position of Fig. 2. Unfolding the rail to the extended position is, accomplished by swinging the section II about therivet I2 as a pivot to the position shown in Fig. 4 where the edge of the plate I9 engages the bolt 22 whereupon further downward movement, Fig. 4, of the section l I' will cause the plate to ride by the rivet l2 until the rivet l2 engages the other end of the slot as illustrated in Fig. 1. This latter movement also brings the slot 2! into alignment with the bolt 22 so that the bolt may pass through the slot until the ends of the sections are in engagement as in Fig. 1. The wing nut 23 may be turned down on the bolt 22 to securely lock the rail in extended position,

A post 24 has, a hinge plate 25 securely riveted thereto by rivets 26. The plate is provided with a vertical slot 21 and an L-shaped slot 28. A leg 29 is provided with rivets 30 and 3| which extend through the slots 28 and 21, respectively, and are provided with enlarged heads to prevent displacement. The slot 21 and rivet 3| provide the pivot for the hinge and the slot 28 and rivet 30 provide the locking means for locking the leg in supporting position, Fig. 5. When the leg is swung outwardly to the left, Fig. 6, the rivet 30 rides along the slot 28 and the rivet 3| likewise rides to the bottom of the slot 21. A slight movement of the leg upwardly is then possible due to the slot arrangement to lock the leg in supporting position. It will be apparent that the leg cannot be accidentally folded until the weight of the stretcher body, of which the post 24 is a part, is removed therefrom to enable lowering of theleg in a substantiall vertical direction to disengage the rivet 30 from the end portion of the slot 28.

Between the rail 9 and post 24 there is a hinge comprising a plate 32 riveted at 33 and 34 preferably to the rail to be rigid therewith. The plate 32 is likewise riveted at 35 to the post 24, which rivet 35 provides the pivot of the hinge. A further rivet 35 may be provided in the post 24 to engage a slot -31 in the plate 32. If: desired, this rivet may be displaced by a bolt and thumb screw such as the bolt 22 and thumb screw 23,

illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, for the purpose of securely locking the hinge when the stretcher is in open position.

While I have illustrated and described selected embodiments of my invention it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a curtain stretcher, a rail comprising a pair of sections adapted to be arranged in end to end relation, a hinge comprising a pair of integral plates arranged at right angles to each other and one of said plates being rigidly secured to the side of one of said sections and the other of said plates lying along said one section, both of said plates extending beyond the end of said one section, the extended portion of said one plate having a slot therein and the extended portion of said other plate terminating short of the end of the extended portion of said one plate and having a pivot edge at the'end thereof, and pivot means on the other of said sections engageable with said one plate in said slot and the extended portion of said other plate lying along the end portion of said other section when the rail is in extended position and lying along another portion of said other section when said rail is in folded position.

2. In a curtain stretcher, a rail comprising a pair of sections adapted for arrangement in end to end relation, a hinge comprising a plate rigidly secured to one of said sections and extending beyond the end thereof, the extended portion of said plate having a slot therein, pivot means on the other of said rails engageable with said plate in said slot, a bolt extending through said other section, another slot in said plate engageable with said bolt, and securing means on said bolt for securing said rail in extended position.

3. In a curtain stretcher, a rail comprising a pair of sections adapted to be arranged in end to end relation, a hinge comprising a plate rigidly secured to one of said sections and extending beyond the end thereof, the extended portion of said plate having a slot therein of a predetermined shape, pivot means on the other of said sections engageable with said plate in said slot, and securing means spaced from said pivot means in said other section for securing said rail in extended position, said securing means arranged between said pivot means and the end of said other section and in the path of said plate during the unfolding movement whereby said one section will pivot about said pivot means during one part of the unfolding movement and will pivot about and ride upon said securing means during another part of said movement while said pivot means rides from one end to the other of said slot.

4. In a curtain stretcher, a rail comprising a pair of sections adapted to be arranged in end to end relation, a hinge comprising a pair of integral plates arranged at right angles to each other and one of which is rigidly secured to the side of one of said sections and extending beyond the end of said one section, the other of said. plates lying along said one section and extending beyond the end thereof and terminating in a pivot edge short of the end of said one plate, the extended portion of said one plate having a slot therein of a predetermined shape, and pivot means on the other of said sections engageable with said one. plate in said slot whereby said one section will pivot about said pivot means during one part of the folding movement and will pivot about the pivot edge on the extended end of said other plate during another part of said folding movement and said pivot means will ride from one end of said slot to the other.

5. In a curtain stretcher, a rail comprising a pair of sections adapted to be arranged in end to end relation, a hinge comprising a pair of integral plates arranged at right angles to each other and one of which is rigidly secured to the side of one of said sections,said plates extending beyond the end of said one section, the other of said plates lying along said one section, the extended portion of said one plate terminating beyond the end of said other plate and having a slot therein beyond the end of said other plate and of a predetermined shape, said other plate having a pivot edge at the extended end thereof engageable with the other of said sections during the folding operation, and pivot means on the other of said sections engageable with said one plate in said slot whereby said one section will pivot about said pivot means during one part of the folding movement and will pivot about the pivot edge of said other plate during another part of said folding movement and said pivot means will ride from one end of said slot to the other.

WALTER W. BLOCK. 

